The Ark - Have you ever heard a song (live video)

Watch The Ark premiere a brand new song on SVT program "Dom kallar oss artister": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssTZWR_XVD8

The Ark have a studio blog

The Ark are currently in the studio recording their 5th album and will be keeping a blog as they go: http://blog.thearkworld.com/

No Ripcord feature on Swedish indie

Should've mentioned this days ago, but my notes got lost with my dead laptop: webzine No Ripcord has published a beginners guide to Swedish indie-friendly music called "The Sound of Independent Sweden". It's actually not 100% indie per-se (see: The Ark for example) and it probably won't offer and revelations to regular IAT readers, but it's probably worth a peep anyway -- here's part two: http://www.noripcord.com/features/the-sound-of-independent-sweden-part-two
Part one aims to cover the northern part of the country and can be found here: http://www.noripcord.com/features/the-sound-of-independent-sweden-part-one

Hank Von Helvete turns to Jesus

Turbonegro frontman Hank Von Helvete is following in the footsteps of Ola Salo (The Ark) and will be appearing as Jesus in a Norwegian stage production of "Jesus Christ Superstar". The show opens on September 3 at Det Norske Teatret in Oslo.

New album from The Ark in 2010

The Ark are planning on spending the summer writing new music with the intent of recording their fifth album this fall. Expect a spring 2010 release.

Empire Dogs - Come on you preachers (video, ft. Ola Salo)

Swedish rockers Empire Dogs have a new video online: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fx9QxHXmt0
The song is called "Come on you preachers" and it features guest vocals from Ola Salo (The Ark). As for their new album "Happy go lucky", I have no idea if/when it'll be out, but you can hear a few tracks at the band's website.

Ola Salo Superstar to get boxset release

There will be a boxset of recordings from the Ola Salo (The Ark) production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" released in March when the show ends featuring wo discs of music, plus the Swedish libretto and pictures from the set.

The Guild, the sideproject of Sylvester Schlegel from The Ark with members of Dungen, will release their new album "The golden thumb" on November 19. Samples and more info: http://www.myspace.com/ohmyguild

Roxy Recordings (The Ark, Hästpojken, etc.) has hired ex-Universal Music AB president Mårten Aglander, displacing current president Leif Käck to the CEO position. Read more: http://www.roxyrecordings.se/news.php?id=208

Svart
Älskade, älskade du EP
self-released

The other day while chatting with my friend about Håkan Hellström, she became frustrated with me when I described the artist as a symbol of Gothenburg, sitting on an icon throne. She laughed when I gave him a simile Halo thing. She contended that we need something in addition than Hellström in this town. The curious coincidence about this; the same day I stumbled on a band that made me say, a new Håkan sound! Is this his little brother that isn't supposed to be like him? (Swedes you get it). No it's not, I am talking about the band Svart, with their EP "Älskade älskade du". These guys are delivering Swedish indiepop, from the generation that grew up with Broder Daniel, Melody Club, The Ark and was influenced by my halo guy above, but also by Bad Cash Quartet and Hello Saferide. A fascinating blend isn't it? And it serves, it serves, it serves! This is as a rowdy popsicle that all of us may want to taste, infinitely, this summer. This EP consists of 5 songs, all good, my favorites is for sure "Elin när hon dansar and Tåget", which makes me think of Per Gessle's "Här kommer alla känslorna på en och samma gång" and Kristian Anttila's "Paul Weller", a great combo. I will bring this EP to the summer evenings with barbecuing and give Svart applause since they are giving us something extra and something original that can be described as Student-life music. Finally, People! We have something more to listen to than "För sent för edelweiss" this summer. This is a sunny-romance, spreading love and delight. 5 songs could be more, I want more! However... my friend told me she likes it. Is this something we asked for? What do you think?
- Therese Buxfäldt

The Ark says they probably won't ever release another physical album again and are considering a single subscription service ala Marit Bergman: http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesliv/musik/article2692222.ab (in Swedish)

Roxy Recordings (The Ark, Hästpojken) has signed As In RebekkaMaria in Sweden and will be releasing the single "Yours truly" on May 30 with the album "Queen of France" to follow later, coinciding with a tour. See our review of the original Danish release here.

Lamont
The golden daze
self-released

Distributed for (free) download on Swedish torrent site The Pirate Bay as well as the band's web site, "The golden daze" tries to be glam pop for the masses, crafted to capture the listener at first listen. Being Malmö based, the band emulates its more successful neighbors, namely The Ark and Melody Club. In this it is successful, but only as an emulation. Despite stabs at punk-laced electro and (oddly enough) swing on the title track, there's not enough originality here to distinguish the band from others. Forgettable as it may be, however, it can also be pretty fun. All tracks are very radio friendly, though none are likely to become radio hits. The production is the album's strongest suit. Aside from a great turn by The Ark's Ola Salo, who gives "Rather do it" (a minor hit in 2006) the kind of behemoth sound that we're used to from these sorts of bands, the rest of the album is produced by Oskar Humlebo (aka Moto Boy). He drenches the band in serpentine rhythms and new-wave synths, which helps to disguise the fact that you're not going to remember many of these songs in a few months. Still, for fans of the over-the-top Malmö based pop sound (like me), there's plenty to like here. Unfortunately, there's just not enough to love.
- Nick James

Check out Swedish pop artist Maia Hirasawa covering "The worrying kind" by The Ark on Swedish TV as part of Melodifestivalen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5RjkrOWpUs
A new edition of her excellent album "Though, I'm just me" will be issued by Razzia Records with a studio version of the song included as a bonus track.

The new Pugh Rogefeldt album "Vinn hjärta vinn", his first album since 1969's "Ja, dä ä dä" together with Janne "Loffe" Karlsson and Jojje Wadenius, will be released on March 26. Guitarist Martin Axén from The Ark produced.